Business formations worldwide

The trust – a perfect instrument for asset protection

• Examples for the legal reduction of corporate taxes
• DTA permanent establishment concept
• Our services and fees
• Parent companies and their subsidiaries in the European Union
• OECD: Articles of the Model Convention with Respect to taxes on income and on capital
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• Information about the company formations in English
• Worldwide Registries
• Table of Fees:  International Business Formations
• Basic considerations within the framework of international taxation

The term “Trust” is widely known and used, however there are often many misunderstandings as to what a Trust actually is. The correct definition of a Trust is an agreement or contract. It is not, as many believe a special type of company. It is purely an agreement -albeit a very special one, between three parties:

1. The Settlor

The Settlor is the transferor of the assets into the Trust. Any kind of asset can be transferred, funds, shares, cars, boats, real estate and even non entities such as patents or rights. Once the assets have been transferred into the Trust this can not be revoked. Once the Settlor has transferred all the assets into the Trust he can legally declare that he does not then own them. This is of special interest in cases of bankruptcy, divorce and inheritance or legal claims. Trusts are one of the most preferred methods employed by US medics to protect their assets in case of malpractice claims being  brought against them.

2. The Trustee

The Trustee is the official manager of the Trust. Officially the Trustee must be independent from the Settlor and has all rights and full control over the actual running of the Trust. Obviously few people would wish to pass that amount of control over their assets to a third party so generally the Trustee will always act unofficially on instruction from the Settlor. It is possible to draft a separate agreement between the Settlor and Trustee ensuring the Settlor retains full control. In order to act as Trustee over any Trust, the Trustee must hold a special license. WSR have the benefit of using the services of a long established and reputable Trustee.

3. The Beneficiary

As the name suggests, the Beneficiary is the person or persons who finally receive the assets from the Trust. The Settlor can be a named Beneficiary. All entitlements to beneficiaries must be set at the commencement of the Trust and can not be revoked or changed. Once the beneficiary has received the assets from the trust he is then liable to declare this and pay due taxation. The Beneficiary can receive regular payments from the trust, for example from the interest or can wait for the expiry of the Trust and receive all assets and interest in full.

Advantages in forming a Trust

• The Settlor can transfer any assets he has and legally declare he does not own them
• No assets that belong to the Trust can be seized
• Potential inheritors can not make claims against the Trust
• Trusts are free from taxation

Disadvantages in forming a Trust

• Trusts can not engage in business but purely manage and protect the existing assets
• Trusts have a maximum duration period of 99 years
• The Beneficiaries are liable for taxation upon payout of the assets
• Once a Trustee has been selected it is almost impossible to replace him